Buffing machine



Jan. 6, 1942. M. H. STEVENS BUFFING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1940 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 6, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BUFFINGMACHINE Martin H. Stevens, YoungstownQOhio' V I Application April 9, 1940-, Serial No. 328,660

2 Claims. (01. 1012). I

This invention relates to a buffing machine and more particularly to abufling machine adapted for cleaning and polishing trays and fiatwork. i

The principal object of the invention 'is the provision of a bufiing machine particularly adapted for cleaning composition trays such as are commonly used in cafeterias and the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tray cleaning machine incorporating mechanism for simultaneously moving and bufiing the trays being cleaned.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tray cleaning machine incorporat-. ing separate means for cleaning the rounded corners of the trays. Specifically, the bufiing machine shown and described herein has been designed for removing oxidation, grease, dirt and other accumulation from trays commonly used in cafeterias which are ordinarily formed of hard rubber, plastics, formica and the like wherein as much as one thirty-second of an inch of oxidation. and

dirt accumulation is commonly found to exist.

While the various cafeteria operators have commonly attempted to clean such trays with various cleaning solutions and alkalies and acids, the uniform result has been an unsatisfactorily cleaned tray as there has been no cleaning equipment available capable of removing the oxidation and dirt accumulations commonly found. The bufling machine shown and described herein cleans and refinishes the trays leaving a mirrorlike finish.

,With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being" understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the buiiing machine.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the bu-fiing machine showing in detail the driving arrangement employed.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail View of a portion of the buffing machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 and shows in detail the buffing apparatus utilized in cleaning-the rounded corners of the trays. j

B'y referring to the drawing and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it will be seen that the buffing machine comprises a rectangular frame I0 preferablyformed of metal and welded, the uppermost portion ll of which is provided with two pairs ofrail like cross members l2 adapted to support-tray carrying tables [3 and I 4 slidably positioned thereon. 'By referring to Figure 1 of the drawing it will be seen that these rail like cross members l2 are preferably formed in an inverted V shape so that guides positioned on the bottom of the movable tables I31 and M will insure the accurate alignment of the tables l3 and I4 thereon. In order that trays positioned on these tables l3 and l4 against transversely positioned rails formed at the back of each, may be suitablycleaned, buffer assemblies comprising a plurality of "cloth buffing disks I5 and I6 have been rotatably positioned above each of the tables l3 and H by means'of frames each of which comprises a pair of cross members I1 and a pair of arms l8, the arms being pivoted at the back to upwardly extending portions of the frame 10 and carrying the buffing assemblies l5 and 'l 6 betweentheir outermost ends on shafts l9 and '20. These frames carrying as they do the buflirigwheelassemblies are'normally posi tion'ed by spring means slightly above the surfaces of the tables" wand [4. Suitable linkage 2| connected to foot pedals 22 is provided as a means of moving the buffing assemblies downwardly uponthe surfaceo'f trays being cleaned. It'willbe seen that properrotation of these buffing assemblies ['5 and it will serve to hold the trays in position on'the tables l3 and I4 against the transverse rail formed at the back of each.

. In order that the trays on the tables I3 and I4 'The rocker arms 23 and 24 impart reciprocating movement to the tables 13 and M by way of horizontal L shaped members 23A and 24A to'which they are pivoted at one end, the opposite ends of the members 23A and 24A are pivoted to the undersides of the tables I3 and I4 respectively. The crank members 25 and 26 g are formed in connection with the driving means which comprise a plurality of shafts 21 positioned transversely of the frame l0 and carried in suitable bearings by cross members thereof. In order that driving motion imparted the principal drive shaft 28 by a motor 29 may be suitably reduced and imparted to the shaft 21 carrying the crank members 25 and 26, a plurality of large and small sheaves 30 and 3| respectively are belted together as shown in Figure 2 so that driving motion imparted the shaft 21 carrying the crank members 25 and 26 will be approximately forty-three revolutions per minute,

In connection with the driving means it will be observed that a belt 32 conveys-motion from the principal drive shaft 28 to one of the large sheaves 30 on one of the shafts 21 and that a belt 33 conveys motion from a small sheave 3| of this same shaft to a large sheave on another of the shafts 21. Still another belt 34 conveys the motion of this latter shaft 21 from a small sheave 3| thereon to a large sheave 30 on the lowermost shaft as shown in Figure 2. The crank members 2'5 and 26 are positioned on this lowermost shaft 21 and impart their reciprocating movement to the rocker arms 23 and 24 by means of slots formed thereon by guides positioned thereon. It will thus be seen that when the motor 29 isenergized the principal shaft 28 revolves and causes the tables l3 and M to move with a reciprocating movement. It will further be-seen by referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing that sheaves 35 and 36 carry'belts 31 which serve'to drive the buffer assemblies I and I6 by means of their shafts l9 and 20. By referring again to Figure 1 it will be seen that the principal shaft 28 is mounted in tubular housings 38 which are in turn affixed to upright extensions of the frame ID as shown in Figure 2. It will thus be seen that a tray placed first upon the table I3 is cleaned lengthwise with the exception of the ends which, due to the round corner formation of the trays, makes this portion of the tray impossible to reach. The tray is subsequently removed from the table l3 and placed sideways on the table I4 where the two uncleaned end sections of the trays are cleaned by the buffers IS. The tray when removed from the table M has been cleaned with the exception of small areas in each of the rounded corners. In order that these small areas adjacent the rounded corners of the trays may be cleaned, a secondary-buffer is necessary and is provided as shown in detail in Figure 3 of the drawing. By referring to this figure it will be seen that a bracket 39 has been positioned on an upwardly extended portion of the frame I0 and carries in a vertical manner through arms formed thereon, a shaft 40 the lower end of which is provided with a buffer 4| which directly opposes a small table 42 upon which the corners of the trays may be positioned and cleaned. A compression spring 43 normally holds the buffer 4| in elevated relation to the table 42 and linkage 44 connecting with a foot pedal 45 provides means for manually lowering the buffer upon the tray to be cleaned. In order that this buffer may be rotated a sheave 43 is positioned immediately above the coil spring on the shaft 43 and, as may be seen in Figures 1 or 2, it is connected by means of a belt to a sheave 4'! positioned on one end of the drive shaft 38.

It will thus be seen that a bufling machine capable of cleaning a complete tray has been designed wherein trays are subjected to reciprocating movement while being buffed by rotating buffers and, further, that the various corner portions of the trays may be conveniently cleaned by subjecting them to the secondary bufiing means formed as part of the bufiing machine.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a frame, guide members positioned across the top of the said frame, movable tables positioned on the said guide members, rocker arms positioned in the said frame adapted to impart reciprocating movement to the said tables, a plurality of shafts positioned in the said frame, belts interconnecting the said shafts by means of; sheaves positioned thereon so as to impart movement to the said rocker arms through cranks carried on one of the said shafts, a drive shaft positioned adjacent the top of the said frame and adapted to drive the said shafts, together with buffer assemblies positionedon secondary frame means above the said reciprocating tables, the said drive shaft adapted to drive the said bufi'er assemblies and means for moving the said buffer assemblies into and out of relation with work' positioned on the said tables substantially asdescribed. I

2. In a buffing machine adapted for cleaning and polishing trays and flatwork and comprising a frame having guide members positioned across the top thereof, tables movable longitudinally" of said frame positioned on said guide members and: means for imparting reciprocating movement to the said tables comprising rocker arms positioned in the said frame, a shaft positioned in the said frame, cranks formed in said shaft and cooperat-' ing with the said rocker arms so that movement imparted the said shaft will result in. the recip- 'rocating movement of the said tables, buffer assemblies positioned above the said tables andmovable vertically in relation thereto, means for rotating the said buffer assemblies and said shaft positioned on the said tables.

MARTIN H. STEVENS; 

